Baltimore County Police have released the identity of a man shot and killed by a police officer during a confrontation early Sunday morning. Joshua M. Lopez, 22, of La Marque, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene after reportedly trying to take a North Point Precinct officer’s gun, according to a Baltimore County Police statement. Police were dispatched to the area of Seaside Road and Dunmanway at 2:21 a.m. on Sunday to investigate reports of several subjects with backpacks walking toward the trailer park.

Local residents called the police believing that the men with backpacks looked suspicious, according to a police spokeswoman. In the 7800 block of Seaside Road, the responding officers located one man – later identified as Lopez – who matched the description provided by the residents, the police statement said. While the officers were interviewing the man, he reportedly became combative and began struggling on the ground with one of the officers. The officer struggling with Lopez said he felt Lopez pulling on his gunbelt and attempting to take his weapon. A second officer used pepper spray, but Lopez reportedly continued trying to take the first officer’s weapon. The second officer, reportedly fearing for the safety of both police officers, then shot Lopez. Lopez was found to be in possession of stolen property, according to the police statement. The officer who fired the shot has been identified as Officer Heins, an 11-and-a-half year veteran. Ofc. Heins has not been involved in any previous police-related shootings. He has been placed on routine administrative leave. The Baltimore Sun has reported that Lopez was in the U.S. Navy and was currently stationed aboard the USS Vella Gulf, which is based in Norfolk, Va. The Sun further reported that, while Baltimore County does not provide officers’ first names in accordance with a police union agreement, online salary records show a Jacob Heins as an officer with the department since 2001.